Comments on: Lalu Prasad’s roller: courting the Muslim vote in Biharhttp://blogs.reuters.com/india/2009/04/17/lalu-prasads-roller-courting-the-muslim-vote-in-bihar/
Perspectives on South Asian politicsThu, 02 Jun 2016 08:03:22 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.5By: Amanhttp://blogs.reuters.com/india/2009/04/17/lalu-prasads-roller-courting-the-muslim-vote-in-bihar/comment-page-1/#comment-6101
Sun, 19 Apr 2009 06:40:21 +0000http://blogs.reuters.com/india/?p=988#comment-6101@Cheri
Being a Bihari I can assure you that Nitish Kumar’s government hasn’t discriminated against any particulr community and nor has it benefited and particular community. Development in the sate has happened for all. Muslims use the same roads as Hindus do, they drink the same water and draw electricity from the same place.

As far as doing something for Muslims is concerned. Then there are are many classes in the country who have been left behind in India’s progress. But the point is sir, it takes time for the development effects to reach to the lowest strata just like water percolates into the soil and reaches the bottom in the end. Also, wouldn’t it be discriminatory if you have special schemes for one class and none for the other? Wouldn’t it be better if we can say we will vote for development and not allow politicians to divide us? Wouldn’t it be better if we can understand that poverty doesn’t discriminate then why should poverty eradication programs should? Affirmative action in the name of religion or caste or region is wrong and should happen on the basis of economic condition.

]]>By: AzadDPhttp://blogs.reuters.com/india/2009/04/17/lalu-prasads-roller-courting-the-muslim-vote-in-bihar/comment-page-1/#comment-6090
Sat, 18 Apr 2009 15:46:05 +0000http://blogs.reuters.com/india/?p=988#comment-6090Muslims in Gujarat are living richer life than any other state from kashmir to kerala. BJP is not discriminatory as is evident by appointing a muslim as the chief police man running the law and order in the state.
]]>By: Cherihttp://blogs.reuters.com/india/2009/04/17/lalu-prasads-roller-courting-the-muslim-vote-in-bihar/comment-page-1/#comment-6085
Sat, 18 Apr 2009 08:34:19 +0000http://blogs.reuters.com/india/?p=988#comment-6085Unlike its western neighbour Uttar Pradesh, Bihar has largely been free of communal violence, punctuated rather by caste (and class) violence. Even during the Ram Mandir agitation and Advani’s rath yatra, there was remarkably little violence against Muslims in Bihar.

In a sense, the lack of one is caused by the other: communal pogroms and wide support for such violence happens only when there is the sense of a Hindu community that is under threat from Muslims — a point you make by quoting ADRI’s Dasgupta.

When that community itself is riven by faultlines across which unspeakable violence occurs, the conditions for large scale communalism do not emerge.

In contrast, Gujarat: where there is little (lower) caste and class upsurge, and the upper castes (and classes) can drag subaltern groups as the footsoldiers of their attacks on Muslims as in 2002.

So for Nitish Kumar to take credit for communal harmony is silly. His predecessor can stake that claim with a wee bit more credibility.

But the question is: would Muslims vote for Kumar despite his BJP ties, or would they chose Prasad, that great crusader of secularism?

Voting for assembly elections and the parliament often follow different patterns and reflect different thinking processes. In state election in Bihar, voting for a BJP-partnered alliance may not be unthinkable for Muslims, given the fact such a government would not represent the communal face of the BJP.

In parliamentary elections, however, it may be that a vote for the Janata Dal is a vote for a BJP government in the centre, which would certainly be not very friendly to Muslims, if not outrightly hostile.

The tragedy however lies elsewhere: the social and economic conditions of Muslims in Bihar are particularly bad, even in comparison with other groups in the state. All the years of Prasad did little to remedy that. His line was: look at UP where Muslims live in fear, you aren’t like that because of me, so vote for me and make as little noise as possible.

Kumar has been hardly better in terms of improving the lot of Muslims in Bihar. Come election date, and the Muslim voter’s choices are precisely: zero.

]]>By: Amit Dagahttp://blogs.reuters.com/india/2009/04/17/lalu-prasads-roller-courting-the-muslim-vote-in-bihar/comment-page-1/#comment-6084
Sat, 18 Apr 2009 08:28:14 +0000http://blogs.reuters.com/india/?p=988#comment-6084Some how true said that Bihar is not much effected with communal ism idea as it is effected by a deadly virus of caste.. Few days back on some news channel a correspondent find to state that one voter from bihar is happy and agree on the progress done by Kumar but he will caste his vote to lalu cause he belongs to his caste. So that mean its very long distance to cover to end mindset of caste based politics in Bihar who is the mother of 75 revolution. Unfortunate despite being a top state before independence its now a curse in name of development. Thanks to All CM ruled this state and ruined it.

Fodder scam emergency problem caste ranbir sena bla bla bla….. Is this really not a time to think why Muslims are still feel alienated from rest of country and left behind in progress, why tell me why. despite Masiha of minority congress lalu mulyam and many others ruled mostly populated states like UP and Bihar. and Congress they rule 50 years at center despite of that no real development.

I tell u why if they develop them than who will vote for them its always better to tell a story of lion will come lion will come.. but infect their is no lion . this is what has been done from past so many years to protect their vote bank and practically do nothing.

Lalu is very smart he utilize the sentiment of uneducated and poor people and break all the barriers of underdevelopment.

Muslims will remain happy and peacefully only is some real development provide to them instead of making noise of fear from BJP and right wing view.

See As just India is a Hindu Majority each minority enjoy maximum benefit and security otherwise we should check middle east why their is no huge and cry for them. Go and see Malaysia US and now Europe too how they treat. Some time redicouls to not talk about real development issue for minority rather than their security and fear from other party..

Bet me This time not much roller coaster will run for so called secular party..